Former director MJ Xavier’s exit from IIM Ranchi was not smooth at all. Though Prof Xavier has termed his departure as ‘for personal reasons,’ there is apparently more than what meets the eye.

According to sources close to the institute, Prof Xavier was forced to take the decision of stepping down due to incorrigible differences with the management of the institute. There were many issues on which the former director and management did not agree. The crucial among them was issue of research. While one wanted that professors be given more time for research, the other wanted ‘lectures’ to take centre stage given that 50% of the class at the institute are taken by visiting faculty.

Another issue was that of the new premises – there were quite a few heated discussions on where the new and permanent campus should be, as the two parties could never agree. Disagreement on a few other issues was also a concern.

While we were not able to speak to anyone from the management, we did get contact Prof Xavier who said he did not want to speak on the matter. Prof Xavier is now Executive Director at Vellore Institute of Technology.

Prof MJ Xavier was IIM Ranchi’s first director and responsible for drafting the curriculum of the institute. Having 25 years of teaching experience behind him both in India and abroad, Prof Xavier obtained a doctorate in management from IIM Calcutta.

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